The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja responded to only two questions in her maiden ‘Prime Minister’s Question Time’.
The Prime Minister’s Question Time is provided for under Rule 41 of the House rules of procedure. It is held on Thursday scheduled at 4:00 pm and lasts for only 45 minutes.
During this time, the Premier responds to several questions raised by Members of Parliament regarding government policy, projects, the performance of agencies, authorities and others.
These questions according to the rules are made in writing and submitted to the Clerk who forwards them to the Prime Minister for written responses copied to the relevant legislator.
After the Prime Minister’s responses, the Leader of Opposition under the rules has a right to respond.
Since her approval as Prime Minister last month, Nabbanja who was clad in a red and cream Kitengi on Thursday took to the floor of parliament to provide written responses on issues raised by MPs.
Before the session started, Deputy Speaker Anita Among informed parliament that Prime Minister Nabbanja had availed her responses to only two questions and that other questions that had been addressed to her, had been responded to by other Ministers.
Without any interruption from MPs, Nabbanja took time in her opening remarks to recount the guiding process of the Prime Minister’s Question Time as provided under the Parliament rules.
“Right honorable Speaker, since this is the first time, I am being given question. The fact is I have not got these questions, apart from the ones they have given me here. I request you to guide…whether it is procedurally okay for us to continue now?” she asked.
Deputy Speaker Among guided that the Prime Minister’s office had informed parliament that Nabbanja was ready to answer only two questions. Among also noted that the remaining questions would be answered next week.
Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze said that the Prime Minister seemed not ready to give responses to questions earlier raised. She suggested that the MPs are instead given time to ask Nabbanja direct questions and then she responds immediately.
Among dismissed Nambooze’s request saying that it was not provided for under the new rules.
Government Chief Whip Thomas Tayebwa also took the floor in defence of Nabbanja emphasizing that the rules on how questions are responded to had changed.
Among’s response did not deter Nambooze from airing out more complaints saying that the eleventh Parliament should make its own rules to enable MPs ably interact with the Prime Minister.
“It is a known fact, that each parliament must make its own rules. The tenth Parliament in their last days, amended the rules and we are now being denied the opportunity as eleventh Parliament to make our own rules of procedure,” said Nambooze.
In response, Among told Nambooze that she can present a motion seeking to amend the rules at a later stage.
This ruling paved way for Nabbanja to respond to two questions on road construction. One of the questions was raised by Kyotera County MP John Paul Lukwago regarding the deteriorating state of Masaka-Mutukula road despite its economic importance to the country.
Nabbanja said that the feasibility studies for the road had been completed in October 2020 and that it was agreed that the road rehabilitation work will be implemented as a regional project. She said that a comprehensive statement on the road would be provided in two months.
Budiope East MP, Moses Magogo also raised concern over the Kamuli- Buyende road which he said is impassable. Nabbanja said that works on this road would start this quarter since the funds have already been released.
However, John Baptist Nambeshe, the Opposition Chief Whip said that the Prime Minister should next time be in absolute compliance with what the rules require by providing copies of the response to the MPs. He also wondered why the country continues to have roads in a deplorable state despite a huge budget provided to the Works and Transport sector.
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